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sand sifting stars
- Thread starter linuxpng
- Start date
They are not so bad if you do not want a functional DSB. If you do, they are a problem. That being said, the real problem IMO is that they tend to starve to death because the sand bed does not have enough time to replenish itself before they make another pass.
They are not appropriate livestock because 1) harm to the DSB 2) will tend to starve 3) wild stock is already under serious stress from souvenir and craft trade. My suggestion would be to avoid them.
They are not appropriate livestock because 1) harm to the DSB 2) will tend to starve 3) wild stock is already under serious stress from souvenir and craft trade. My suggestion would be to avoid them.
I think people might be confusing more predatory serpant/brittle stars with sand sifting stars (Archaster typicus). I currently have three in my reef and I have never seen the sand so clean! There is very little detritus buildup and they are not bothering any of the cucumbers or clams. I like them because unlike cucumbers, they tend to stay out in the lit areas where algae tends to build up on the sand. As for them killing everything...well all I can say that I see plenty of worms in the sand. The deepest these stars dig down is maybe 1/8 inch. So unless I see reason to remove them, they are here to stay! Best sand cleaners I have seen! Oh....and having a very healthy SPS only tank, I got a pretty good berometer for healthy DSB.
I have resently purchased a sand star myself, and put it in my 72g reef. It has been there for about 1 week, and I havn't noticed any of my worms eaten, even when the star moves right over top of them.
I have a 32g refugium with tons of worms and pods.
If the star eats up my 72g dsb, will my refugium take up the slack?(will this throw things off?)
If the refugiums dsb can take it's place, and i want to keep the star is there something i can feed it so it won't die?
I have a 32g refugium with tons of worms and pods.
If the star eats up my 72g dsb, will my refugium take up the slack?(will this throw things off?)
If the refugiums dsb can take it's place, and i want to keep the star is there something i can feed it so it won't die?
So far everything everyone has said regarding these stars eating 'everything' in the DSB is heresay. WHAT are they eating? From what I can see it is only detritus and left over food. I don't know about others but I have never had a DSB just spilling over with life visible life. If I see worm trails and nitrogen bubbles I am happy and so are my corals. Its the anerobic bacteria in the deep layer I care most about.
Posted by Reefer_Guy
-For me it is "heresay" from Dr Ron and Rob Toonen, which is enough "heresay" for me to make a decision not to keep these animals with a "properly" functioning DSB. I'll stick with their opinion along with ophiuroid on this matter.
Steve
So far everything everyone has said regarding these stars eating 'everything' in the DSB is heresay. WHAT are they eating? From what I can see it is only detritus and left over food
-For me it is "heresay" from Dr Ron and Rob Toonen, which is enough "heresay" for me to make a decision not to keep these animals with a "properly" functioning DSB. I'll stick with their opinion along with ophiuroid on this matter.
Steve
I would not call differing opinions 'hearsay', but I would tend to agree with Reefer_Guy. I do not think sand sifting stars are detrimental, under the right conditions.
1) you need a fair amount of open sand
2) you need a tank big enough to house it. a 29g simply will not do it
3) you need to have an established tank.
I have both a 125 and a 360 and I have a sand sifting star in each, and have had them for over a year. I have not had any issues with them.
Eddi
1) you need a fair amount of open sand
2) you need a tank big enough to house it. a 29g simply will not do it
3) you need to have an established tank.
I have both a 125 and a 360 and I have a sand sifting star in each, and have had them for over a year. I have not had any issues with them.
Eddi
Reefer_Guy":2j6d4bew said:I think people might be confusing more predatory serpant/brittle stars with sand sifting stars (Archaster typicus).
What I consider the "Sand sifting star" is Astropecten polycanthus. A few ppl on this board saw a pic of it in my tank and recommended I remove it.. see the link below for a pic... Marine Depot Live Calls it a "Algae eater" 8O, I call it a "critter eater" !! My sand was beautiful when I had it...
http://www.marinedepotlive.com/1304394.html
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